Promoting axon regeneration by inhibiting RNA N6-­methyladenosine demethylase ALKBH5

Nerve cells, or neurons, are the key communication components of the body. Each neuron takes signals from many inputs and transmits them through a single output called the axon. Wang et al. studied the impact of m6A modifications on axon regrowth by examining the effects of several genes associated with these modifications in rats. The experiments showed that expression of a gene called Alkbh5 – which codes for an enzyme that removes m6A modifications – regulates the amount of axon regrowth following an injury to peripheral nerves. The findings suggest that Alkbh5 influences axon regrowth and are an important step towards understanding how biological systems repair nerve damage.

• 1
  Knockdown of ALKBH5 enhanced sensory axonal regeneration, whereas overexpressing ALKBH5 impaired axonal regeneration in an m6A-­dependent manner.
• 2
  ALKBH5 increased the stability of Lpin2 mRNA and thus limited regenerative growth associated lipid metabolism in dorsal root ganglion neurons.
• 3
  Knockdown of ALKBH5 enhanced the survival and axonal regeneration of retinal ganglion cells after optic nerve injury.